Apple Bag finished

Now to finish the Apple handbag.

I sewed the lining fabric right sides together, with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, on three sides leaving the top open. Then, I sewed the canvas bag together the same way.

Laying the bag flat, I made marks on the lower edges 1 1/4 inch in from the seam allowance. Opening up the bottom corner seams, I put a pin at each mark. Then, I drew a stitch line. I stitched across this line on both bottom corners of the bag. This creates a 2 1/2 inch gusset. I did the same for the lining of the bag. I didn't cut off the corner triangle because I think it weakens the bag.

Then, I placed the lining into the canvas bag. I also covered a 2 1/2 inch wide piece of cardboard with the lining fabric and placed this is the bottom of the bag.

To finish the top, I made a 1 inch mark along the top, folded and press it. I did the same for the liner.

To attach those great handles, I cut four pieces of the yellow striped grosgrain ribbon and slipped them through the holes in the handles. I hand tacked each handle in place to the canvas bag. Then, I pinned the top of the liner and canvas bag together and stitched all around.

I finished with adding a button at the bases of each handle.

It was so much fun to take materials picked up at different time from various places to make a truly one of a kind project like this. I hope this inspires you to look at your treasure stash and make something totally you!

Stitch On!

Terry

Apple Handbag

My first project of the year 2019 is this Apple Handbag. All the materials used were purchased at flea markets, thrift stores or yard sales...except for the pretty wooden buttons which I bought online on "wish"....and they were super cheap! It was finding the fantastic black check acrylic handles that propelled me to finally make this bag.

To begin, I cut two pieces of canvas and two pieces of lining fabric into 15"x18" rectangles.

The apple needlepoint was in a frame (50 cents). I took the needlepoint out of the frame and cleaned it. I wanted to use trim on the needlepoint to cover the rough edges and to give me something easier to stitch to yellow chevron canvas.Would you just look at this fruit embroidered trim and the yellow striped grosgrain ribbon! Yes, these things were in my stash. I sewed the trims together to create a wider trim.

Next, I stitched the trim to the needlepoint.

I positioned the needlepoint panel onto the canvas fabric and used some fabric glue to tack it down. I used a bar-tack to stitch the piece to the canvas. I clipped the threads between the bar tacks.

I stacked the wooden button on top of a big clear plastic button and stitched them over the corners of the needlepoint panel. The wooden button was right for the design but it wasn't big enough. I love the added novelty of stacking buttons.

In my next post, I'll show how to finish the bag.

Conversational Birds

So, here is my Bird Quilt....plus five book covers which I made with my extra birds and flowers I made with my flower loom. The book cover is made from woven placemats picked up from a thrift store.

The birds are sitting on a rick rack "wire".

I will get my pattern written up and posted for sale, soon. 

This has been a super fun scrap quilt project!

Quilted Birds

This week I have been in my Stitch Studio making funny birds. We are having a snow event in Southern Indiana...very unusual for us....and I'm staying inside to make quilted birds and some leaves and berries.

I designed the bird using four appliqué pieces that are fused to a backing fabric which is also the torso of the bird....added a fused beak. Then, I quilted the bird and cut him out. 

Next, I realized that I could stitch leaves and berries in the fabric surrounding the bird...so, I did.

This is joyous play! Now, I am thinking of the branches and backgound for the birds....I'll let you know when that happens!

Enjoy the Process!

Terry

Mr. Blue Morning Fish

Mr. Blue Morning Fish is an Embellished wall quilt. The Fish is fused Applique. The inside of the border is made of twisting dark blue and white Rick-rack.

The fabrics on the borders and waves were cut from an African print. I quilted the piece with a transparent polyester thread.

This quilt was inspired by my sister, Mary's blue fish....this quilt is for her.

 

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Good Morning Turtles 2 of 2

Wow, I've had a lot to do since the last post....here is some more of Good Morning Turtles:

When I finished making my motifs, I laid them onto the quilt top ( marbled fabric) for placement. I use a design wall, so, I pinned my design elements when I liked the placement.

Then, I traced around each shape.

I machine quilted the top. I quilted along the lines and shapes in the marbled design. I also quilted around the turtle and flower shapes....not inside of the shapes, just around them. I also added beads to the surface.

 

Then, I cut the top and the batting around the inside of the shapes, glued the flower and turtle shapes in the spaces. I painted the space between the shapes with fabric paint.

So much Fun!

 

 

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Big Thread Spool

I got a cable spool from a guy laying cable in our backyard...and,

because I love thread so much... I decided to transform it by making a spool label. My inspiration is this spool that I used for a cabinet pull on my notion cabinet.

 

So, I cut a big circle from a piece of wallpaper.....not the pre-pasted kind. I used the back of the wallpaper. Wallpaper is very strong and the back of it takes pencil and color really well. It was also the right color.

I drew my design and painted it with craft paint. I did this in an evening...it went very quickly.

I used tan Rit dye...just brushed it on...to color the spool. When that dried, I glued the thread label to the top of the spool. For the "thread" I wrapped paper ribbon around the spool....I had yards of paper ribbon that required a storage solution..

My dress form had been standing on the spool...so, I decided to use the spool as a stand for my dress form. All I had to do was to pull the dress form stand off of the pole, put the pole through the spool and then put the stand back on under the spool.

TA DA!

One might think this project is finished...but that was before Lisa saw it....I'll be making hers next. She wants it in black.

 

 

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Good Morning Turtles Quilt Part 1 of 2

Good Morning Turtles is a little quilt that began with a hand marbled fabric from Quilter's Treasures. I designed this quilt with flower and turtle motifs that fit into the grass-like fabric design.

I was playing with several technique ideas. I want to share some of these things with you.

My first idea was to thread paint a base and then built up a design with fabric fused felt elements. Here are photos of the progress of the flower motifs.

I stitched the flower base. The fabric I used is a pretty yellow dot cotton because the color of the fabric will show through the stitching. I stitched some crosshatching in the middle of the flower to keep the motif from puckering.

Flower elements are made from fusing print fabrics to wool felt. I used Wonder Under fusible web.Then, I cut out the shapes.

Next, I glued the shapes to the base using a really good fabric glue. I used the same techniques for the turtles.

In my next post, I'll show you the next steps I took in the making of this quilt.

 

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Flower Loom

I found this great little vintage flower loom at my local thrift store for $1.25.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I gathered pretty yarns and novelty threads together and started making these lovely flower embellishments.

Nice little project for evenings in front of TV.

So Much Fun!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Flower Loom

I found this great little vintage flower loom at my local thrift store for $1.25.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I gathered pretty yarns and novelty threads together and started making these lovely flower embellishments.

Nice little project for evenings in front of TV.

So Much Fun!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Flea Market Thread Treasures!

A small find can influence my fiber art so easily! Two Dollars and this I-Cord Maker was mine! It is the best one I've found. Several late evenings watching a movie on the couch....and this I-Cord is mine!

I found the woven platter for some change. I use woven platters as toppers for round baskets filled with yarn as well as for project trays.
The clamp is used to hold the I-cord as it grows....I clamp the end of the cord, then wrap it around the clamp. I like the plastic clamps....cheap from Lowes.....they are strong but lightweight......and, of course, my ever present Havel's Scissors.
I have some ideas for the I-Cord....but the fleeting ideas haven't quite formed into a thing quite yet.
 

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Cloth Spirals

I love fabric in all of its forms....including the scraps.....the near end of a cloth's life!

A while back, when I was cleaning out our closets, I bagged up a lot of T-shirts. So, I made yarn out of them and crocheted market baskets and rugs. There were still leftovers. I began to roll them up...just playing...then realized that this material could make beautiful cloth spiral units with which to make some art.

This is the first one. I used and old frame with a dense cardboard insert. I rolled and glued and cut and glued. I used thread scraps in between the spirals. I had a wooden picture stand and wrapped it with jute to hold the work.

I made several more with the T-shirt Scraps and then began to incorporate my fabric scraps from my quilts.

This time, I used an old printer's letter tray as my frame. I also painted on the frame.

I love this!

I use strips of fabric, fold them lengthwise, glue, roll, cut, place and glue.

I cut the roll in half, making two cloth spirals out of one. I use Havel's 9" Teflon Coated Serrated Scissors...http://www.havelssewing.com/

These are heavy duty scissors that can handle the cuts needed....plus....the Teflon coating resists the glue and cleans easily. The scissors for the job!.....its important!

This is my current project. I am defining organic forms with color contrasts. I rough sketched the forms onto the printer's tray with pen. I am only using cotton fabrics for this one for a cleaner stronger graphic result.

It is very satisfying to use the ends of things to make a beautiful piece of art.